Sometime words fail, and only your stomach can fully inform you about the revulsion you’re feeling when confronted with imagery and words that are contrary to the most basic human decency and every good intention humankind has nurtured over the eons. Not to mention the wisdom of all the world’s religions warning forevermore about the sin of making idols of either fallible human beings or money.
Such was the case yet again for me earlier today when coming across the latest media offering that President Trump himself shared on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday. I will try not to say too much here as the imagery speaks so powerfully and revoltingly on its own.
The barely half-minute, AI-generated video opens with imagery from war-torn Gaza streets, but quickly morphs into a fantasy of children romping on beaches, towering golden statues of Trump gazing down at a city center, buildings emblazoned with “Trump Gaza,” Trump dancing with an Arab woman whose ass shows clearly through a sheer skirt, Elon Musk gorging on Middle Eastern food and throwing money to the heavens on a beach.
At video’s end, Trump and none other than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lie barechested on beach lounges sipping colorful cocktails.
Everything about it is idolatrous, making fetishes of the money being lavished by Trump and Musk, the food Musk is wolfing down, the statues Trump erects for himself, the sex he is promised with his exotic dancing paramour.
Money-money-money, untold riches of food and drink, luxury accommodations for sex-sex-sex in a sparkling Trump hotel, all of it replacing a battered, ravaged population of 2 million souls who have been forcibly removed to other countries by a man whose pure gold statue rises above their land, larger than life, unto a god.
Tequila bar at Auschwitz, anyone?
At video’s end, Trump and none other than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lie barechested on beach lounges sipping colorful cocktails.
What is wrong with those pictures—if not everything?
What is antithetical about it to all the world’s religions—if not everything?
Most certainly it is antithetical to the Christianity that Trump professes to embrace, despite the fact that 80% of white evangelical voters supported him in both of his presidential election victories.
It is hard to imagine anyone with half a conscience looking at this video and not being revolted (or at least troubled?) as the soundtrack proclaims:
“Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear, Trump Gaza’s finally here. Trump Gaza shining bright, golden future a brand new light. Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.”
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To close, a nod here to alternative sentiments to “Feast and dance the deal is done.”
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth below, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…” —Exodus 20:3-6
“Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” —Romans 1:25
“Superstition, idolatry, and hypocrisy have ample wages, but truth goes a-begging.”
—Martin Luther, “Table Talk” (1569)
“It is not life and wealth and power that enslave me, but the cleaving to life and wealth and power.” —The Gospel of Buddha (1917)
“They are obsessed with endless anxieties that end only with death. Still, they maintain with complete assurance that gratification of desires and accumulation of wealth is the highest purpose of life.” —Bhagavad Gita 16:11
“O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allah . And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah—give them tidings of a painful punishment.” —Quran 9:34
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Here it is…
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Deep appreciation to the photographers! Unless otherwise stated, some rights reserved under Creative Commons licensing
Deep appreciation to the photographers! Unless otherwise stated, some rights reserved under Creative Commons licensing.
Elizabeth Haslam, whose photos (except for the books) grace the rotating banner at top of page.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lizhaslam/
Library books photo by Larry Rose, all rights reserved, contact: larry@rosefoto.com
Trump statue from Instagram screen shot, golden calf from the public domain
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